Catamenial bandage making machine or the like



June 27, 1944. L, SCHULMAN 2,352,228

CATAMENIAL BANDAGE MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 18, E59 esheets-shet 1 I INVENTOR. Oil/5 czc//mam IB" wf June 27, 1944. L..scHULMAN CATAMENIAL BANDAGE MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE' 6 Sheets-sheet 2Filed Feb? 18, 1939 INVENTOR. Chu/man.

I 'Zou/l5 ATTORNEY.

June 27, 1944. L, SCHULMAN 2,352,228

CATAMENIAL BANDAGE MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 18, 1939 6Sheets-Sheet 5 I IN VEN TOR. /00/5 fica/mcm,

BY w l HW A TORNEY.

June 27, 1944.

L. scHULMAN CATAMENIAL BANDAGE MAKING MCHINE OR THE LIKE e sheets-sheet4 Filed Feb. 18, 1939 mm W.. NL/m M. VU 0 N T i Dfw U OM June 27, 1944L. scHULMAN I 2,352,228

CATAMENIL BANDAGE MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 18. 1939 6Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. [011/5 5050/0700.

BY f Avd-unf AT oRNEY.

June 27, 1944. L. SCHULMAN CATAMENIAL BANDAGE MAKING MACHINE OR THE LIKEFiled Feb. 18, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. 0a/'5 5cm/Man.

AT ORNEY Patented June 27, 1944 OATAMENII; BA'NnAGEMAKING MACHINEA ORLIKE Louis Schulman, Brooklyn, NaY., assigner of one- `third. to MaxwellE.' Sparrow, New York, N. Y.

Application' February 1s, 1939, serial No. 257,117

' Y 1o Clarins; .coi 154-29) This invention relates generally toimprovements in bandages and their suspension means, particularlycatamenial bandages; and more specifically to the making, folding andpackaging of catamenial bandages.

In a catamem'al bandage or the so-called sanitary napkin, the thicknesslis not uniform throughout, its length. This non-uniformity in thicknessis due to the practical requirement-of having the substantially thickabsorbent portion of .the bandage at its intermediate area, and the thintabs at its ends for suspension'thereof and for the comfort of thewearer.A I I This non-uniformity in the thickness of a catamem'albandage presents a problem which must be considered in the productionand packing thereof, particularly, when it is desired to provide acatamenial package in compact form-enabling; for instance, a woman toconveniently carry the same in her handbag or to permit the same to bedispensed from a vending machine. In the production and packaging of acatamenial bandage according to this invention, this problem is takeninto consideration.

It is an object rto present a package containing a catamenial bandage in`compact form, by accordion-pleating or folding thel bandage 'andcompressing the same into a small individual' package; thus enabling thepackage to be Vconveniently carriedin awomans handbag, or to bedispensed from a vending machine.

Further objects of the present invention reside in the provision ofmeans for making 'catamnial bandages and also in the means for folding:and compressing the same into smallindividual packages. l u i f It is afurther object of thepresent inventionl to provide an improved and novelcombined bandage and suspension means or support there: for, which ispractical, ecient, economicaland easily adjustable upon the wearer.

In addition to affording positivesecurity ith respect to the supporting'of the bandage, 'the' present invention has the advantage .of providinginstrumentalities for keepingthe ends of -the bandage in a spreadandattenedcondition, the' spreading elect operating very materiallyto-re'- duce excessive bulkiness, rendering rthe Aconnect-v ing endsunusually at and compact."` 1 L,

It is a further object of the 'present Ainvention` to produce 'a bandageWith'arsupporting Vmeansl` which will prevent the-'supported ends of..the; bandage from gathering or puckerin'gl.-and thus allowing'the saidends to lie flatv against-the bcdyof thewearer.y f -1 f teners andsupporters'.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a catamenial-device which will allow of proper adjustment upon the wearer, and whichwill avoid the use of common or conventional fas- It is a furitherobject of the present invention to provide a catamen'ial bandage whichwill remain flat against the-body or garment of the user, and not marthegraceful lines of dresses, particularly tight-fitting ones, ordestroy the effect of delicate sheer fabrics.

' Stillanother objectofthe present invention is to provide a nat-lying'catamenial bandage, which will not cause any discomfort to the wearer.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention4 comprisescertain details of construction and varrangement of parts as will behereinafter` more fully described, illustrated and claimed, referencebeing had in the accompanyingdrawings which form a part of thisspecification andin which:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 isa front view of a sanitary belt and napkin or catamenialbandage embodying the invention, and shown as applied to a body.

Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1. f ipFig. 3 is atop planview of a beltand napkin or bandage according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View 4 4 of Fig. 3. Y

Fig. 5 is a perspective Viewof a package containing the catamenialbandage folded into accordion pleats.v l

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view through the maken through line ypackage illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 ;is a sectional view through a napkin or bandage showing onetypical way of folding the same.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view (partly-broken away) of the napkin showninlig. 7 in-attened condition.

vFig. 8a.is a modified View of napkin adjacent Referring to the drawingsand particularly to Figs. 1-4 which shows one example by which theinvention may be realized, the numeral I indicates generally acatamenial bandage conventionally known as a sanitary napkin which maycomprise a gauze shell II and a filler I2 of absorbent material whichmay be of the conventional type and which is located in the centerportion of bandage or napkin I0, there being left the two free ends I3',I4. Shell II is formed by wrapping the gauze around the absorbent fillerI2. The ends I3, I4 will, therefore, in this instance, consist of aplurality of layers of gauze. The filler I2 is held captive andprevented from shifting by the rows of stitches I5, I6. The free endshave folded-over portions I'I, I8 which are secured to the body of theends by means of lines of stitching I 9, 28.

Each free end of the bandage I0 at its foldedover portion is providedwith preferably two spaced-apart slots 2I, 22 through which an end ofthe belt 23 is laced. These slots 2|, 22 are preferably reinforced bystitches 24 and may be made in a conventional manner as by a buttonholemachine. Belt 23 is laced through the napkin I8 to provide a loop 25 onone side thereof, the belt ending on the other side of the napkin in twofree ends 25, 21 which, when the napkin is adjusted on the wearer, aretied together into a conventional knot or bow 28 (Fig. l) By lacing thebelt 23 through the button-holes 2l, 22, the former will hold the endsof the napkin I0 flat against the body B of the wearer as indicated at29 in Fig. l. Belt 23 preferably comprises an inexpensive narrow tapemade ofk any suitable material, discardable with the napkin.

The belt may be made of elastic or inelastic material. Instead of thebelt being looped at one end as at 25, it may be provided with two freeends (not shown) similar to the ends 26, 27, so that, the tapes may betied on eitherV side of the body to hold the bandagein suspension; orthe belt may be provided with two looped portions or ends similar to 25,this being preferable particularly where elastic tape is employedas thesuspension means.

By the construction hereinabove described there is provided a catamenialbandage which will not pucker or gather at the ends nor bulge thereat,but will remain flat against the body of the wearer and which will notbe made manifest through the clothing.

Although the example heretofore described refers to the use of theinvention as a catamenial bandage it is understood that the same isapplicable where bandages are generally employed, particularly where itis desired that the bandage be kept flat against the body to avoiddiscomfort and irritation.

A means of packaging the device is shown in Figs. -7. The package ispreferably rectangular in shape, although it may be formed into anyother shape. The package is made very -compact by the means about to bedescribed so that it can be conveniently carried byl the person ordispensed from a vending machine. For example, where theY bandage is inthe form of a catamenial bandage, both it and its supporting means maybe arranged to provide a package of a size approximately 2%" long by 5/5wide by high, although the bandage is of conventional size.

n order to provide a very compact package the bandage may betransversely foldedintoi accordion pleats as clearly seen in Fig. 7. Theaccordion pleats 68 are preferably produced under pressure therebyreducing the dimensions of the bandage. The package P seen in Fig. 5contains the bandage or napkin 58, in compressed accordion-pleated formand the suspension or supporting tape (not seen). The bandage andsupport may be wrapped rst in a covering 5I of tin foil over which isplaced a label 52, the whole being then wrapped in a suitable,preferably transparent covering or Wrapper 53, such as, "Cellophane orother cellulose material. The tin foil wrapper 5I and the Cellophanecover 53 may be folded at the ends of the package as indicated at 54. Inthis embodiment in lieu of stitches I9, 2U there are provided theadhesive spots I9' (see Fig. 8a)

Fig. 8 shows a bandage 50 made in accordance with the invention,provided with the buttonholes 55 reinforced by the stitches 5B. Thebandage further has the gauze shell 51 and absorbent ller 58, which maybe conventional, the filler being held in place .by the stitches 59.

A machine or mechanism which may be employed to produce the aforesaidcatamenial bandage or sanitary napkin, preparing the same in pleated andcompressed form for the wrapping operation, and initially wrapping thesame will now be described.

Referring rst generally to this machine, the absorbent material iscontained on a spool of suitable diameter and is fed by a set of feedrolls operated intermittently through suitable crank or cam movementactuating a ratchet on said wheels. A predetermined 'portion of theabsorbent material is fed up to a knife properly spaced and the cut-offportion (I2 of Figs. 3, 4 and 58 of Figs. 7, 8) is automaticallydeposited on a transfer plate. This transfer plate makes a movement anddeposits the absorbent material in the center of the gauze.

The spool of gauze is located at right angles to the transfer plate sothat the absorbent material is deposited on the gauze sectionproportionally to the length and width thereof.

The gauze is then drawn through a folder which folds the gauzelongitudinally (having the section of absorbent material locatedthereon) into a flat tube of the proper size. The folded gauze is nowdrawn up to a knife by means of gripper jaws actuated by a segmentallever, which cuts the gauze to the proper length (indicated by thenumeral II in Figs. 3, LPfand 5'I in Figs. 7, 8). This cut length isthen deposited on a conveyer and is then brought to adhesive applierswhich apply the adhesive (see I9' in Fig. 8a) on both ends of the cutgauze, simultaneously, by a system of segmental rol-ls which deposit theadhesive in predetermined spots. These adhesive spots are in lieu of thestitching. I9, 20. From there the conveyer carries the same to a set offolders which fold over the ends (II, I8 in Fig. 4) of the cut gauze,approximately one inch from the ends and is then fed to a Set ofpressing rolls on each end to adhesively secure the folded down ends.The conveyer then feeds the cut gauze to a set of sewing machines whichsew stitches (I5, I8, in Figs. 3, 4, and 59 of Figs. '7, 8) at each endof the absorbent material thereby preventing the absorbent material fromshifting and securing, the same in position within the folded gauze. Thenow formed napkin is brought by the conveyer to a set of perforatingknives located on either end of" saidv napkin and two or more'buttonholeopenings (2|, 22 or 55) are perforated on each end of the napkin; afterwhich the conveyer brings iti under a system of feed rolls whichdeposits a predetermined length of tape used as a means of securing thenapkin to the body o-f the user. This `tape 23 is fed from aspool bymeans of intermittent feed rolls which provide the proper length and thetape is cut olf at that length. The conveyer then carries the napkin andthe tape to a folder which folds the napkin transversely into threeparts with the tape enclosed. The conveyer then carries the thus foldednapkin to a lifting fork which deposits the napkin into a set ofcorrugated rolls. The corrugated rolls transversely corrugate, crease orpleat the napkin and deposit it on an inclined platform which is a partof the mold wherein the napkin is cornpressed. This platform is hingedatits lower end and when the napkin is deposited thereon by suitable meansthis platform is closed into a predetermined position within the walls.of this mold and becomes a rectangular box. s cends within this boX andpresses the folded and pleated napkin into a compartment in a dial platelocated'directly beneath the mold. v The dial plate then makespreferably one-sixth turn which brings the compressed napkin to thefirst stage of further compression. The reason for producing completecompression by stages is to relieve the napkin.l of the confined airtherein. The next stop of compression brings the napkin to la smallercompass than what is required, thus allowing for the expansion of thenapkin which takes place upon release of the pressure produced by theplunger. Then the compressed pleated napkin is brought under anotherplunger which deposits the napkin on a transfer member below the dialplate. This transfer member is stationary. A ram operated by suitablemeans elects it into a star wheel'which is a part of the wrappingmechanism. From this point on the compressed, pleated and paper-enfoldednapkin is wrapped in any conventional manner. Referring now to .thedrawings, Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the material feeding devices forthe sanitary napkin or 'catamenial bandage. The numeral indicates aplatform upon which is mounted a reel frame |0| on which is placed amandrel |02. Mounted on mandrel |02 is a spool |03 carrying a roll ofabsorbent material |04. Mounted on frame work |06 by suitable bracketsare the feed rol-ls |05 which are operated by a cam or eccentric |01which in turn operates bar v|08 actuating ratchet |09. Knife arm ||0 issupported by bracket |00 mounted on platform |00; This knife severs theabsorbent material after the proper amount has been fed, and is actuatedby a pairv of bevel segments supported by bracket l2 mounted on platform|00. Crankplate ||3 'operates connecting rod 4 and operates segmentsTransfer plate |5 receives the cut absorbent material and by means ofcrankplate or cam |6 operating connecting rod |1 and segments ||8 makesa 180 turn and transfers the absorbent material onthe gauge in theproper location for the subsequent operations. This transfermember issupported on bracket 9 and is mounted on platform |00. is a power shaftand |2| is a pair of sprockets actuating chain |22' and supplying meansto operate the aforementioned mechanisms.

|23 is a reel supporting, a mandrel |24 and holds a spool |25 containinga roll of gauze |26 and mounted on'platform |00. |21 indicates al folderin'a fixed position and by the simple act of drawing the gauze throughthe same will cause a three layer fold. The folder |21 is mounted onplatformllltl...I -v

A plunger `de- A bracket |28 upon which is mounted knife |29 severs thefolded gauze and makes the proper length of napkin. Bracket |28 ismounted on platform |00.

A gripping member |30 is carried on sliding bracket |3| which slides onguide rods |32, the same being held by bracket |33 mounted on platform|00. The function of gripping member |30 is accomplished through theaction of the arm |34 operated by crank |35 which operates in thefollowing manner. The arm |34 moves with a forward and backward motionthrough the rotation of the crank |35; the gripper jaws |30 are heldopen by suitable means through the forward movement and as it passesunderneath the upper knife |29 the4 gripper jaws |30 close on the foldedgauze |26' enclosing the absorbent material |04. On the return movementof the arm |34 the entire length of the napkin is drawn out, the gripperjaws |30 are opened and the end of the napkin is cut olf by knife |29and is at the same time deposited on conveyer |36. An adhesive device|40 is located on each end of the napkin. The rotary appliers |40 printthe proper amount of adhesive on each end and return to their places ofrest thereby releasing the napkin to be carried by the conveyer |36 forthe next step. Two rotary compression members |4| are hinged on itslower` end, and their function is to press down the two ends of thenapkin to make the adhesive stick. Two conventional sewing ma.- chines|42 are operated by shaft |20 through sprockets and chains |43, thestitching of the machines secure by fastening the absorbent material inthe gauze in its proper location and prevents shifting of the absorbentmaterial .during the subsequent manipulations.

Two perforating members |44, one located on each end cut a multiple ofslits on each end of the napkin through the adhesive cemented parts withthe object of providing openings through which ,the tape can be passed.This mechanism is operated by chain and sprockets |45 from the mainshaft |39, all of which is mounted on platform |00.

A feeder |46 feeds a predetermined length of tape through the feed rolls|41, the same being operated intermittently and then cut off by a knife(not shown). Feeder |46 is mounted on platform |00 and is operatedthrough chain and sprockets |48 and power shaft I 30. Tape |49 is takenfrom spool |50 which is placed on mandrel |5| supported on reel |52 andmounted on platform |00.

Conveyer |36 carries the napkin to folder |52 which folds the napkin inthree parts transversely and encloses the tape therein, this folder |52is operated through chain and sprockets (not shown) and driven by powershaft |39 and mounted on platform |00. Conveyer |36 carries thecompletely folded napkin to a forked lifting platform |53, the functionof which is to lift the folded napkin from the conveyer |36 and depositthe front end to a pair of pleating corrugating or creasing rolls |54,the same rotating at a fast rate of speed and ejecting the napkin on aninclined plate |55 which is movable between side walls |56, This plate|55 is hinged at the bottom of the mold. After the deposit of thepleated napkin the inclined plate |55 is caused to close up by cam andlever action |51 and |58 and is followed by ram |59 shown in Fig. 12.

The compression ram |59 is actuated by segment |60 and powered by adevice |6| comprising levers, connecting links, and eccentric, the

device being driven by chain and sprockets |6| and power shaft |39. Theresult of the compression rams (|59) action on the napkin is to compressthe same in a pocket in the dial plate |62. The dial plate has sixpockets and acts as a carrier for the compressed napkin in its step bystep manipulations, and is actuated intermittently by the Genevamovement |63 driven by sprocket and chain |54 and power shaft |39.

The dial plate |62 rotating in clockwise direction brings the compressednapkin under the rams of the duplex press |65 which further compressesthe napkin making the same ready for ejection by the mechanism |66 whichis the fourth step of the compressing system. The mechanism |66comprises the ejecting ram operated by lever |61 pivoted on the ram |80of second press |65 and actuated by same. The duplex press |65 is drivenby chain and sprockets |68 and powered by shaft |39. The completedcompressed napkin is ejected in a receptacle located underneath thefourth pocket |8| of the dial plate |62 and is then further ejected intothe star wheel |1| of the wrapping machine as shown in (Fig. 12) all ofthe foregoing being mounted on platform H39.

Fig. 12 is a side View of Fig. 11 showing details not seen on Fig. 11.|69 is the lever which actuates the ram Ili which ejects the compressednapkin into one of the pockets of the star wheel l I'H. |12 is a roll ofwrapping material held in the reel |13 and supported by stand |14mounted on platform Hlil. |15 is a system of feed rolls held by bracket|16. |11 is an adhesive box which gums the end of the wrapping material.

From this point on the wrapped bandage may be further packaged asdesired in any suitable manner.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing L.;

from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore, desirethe present embodiments to be considered in all respects as illustratedand not restrictive; reference being had to the appended claims ratherthan to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of theinvention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and det posited on gauze material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for grippingthe folded gauze, means for moving the gripping means to draw the foldedgauze a predetermined distance for a cutting operation, means forcutting a predetermined length of said folded gauze for producing acatamenial bandage, means for depositing adhesive on said bandageadjacent the ends thereof, means for folding over the ends of saidbandage upon itself, means for pressing down said folded ends with theadhesive therebetween to form reinforced ends, means for perforatingsaid bandage through said reinforced ends, means for depositing apredetermined length of tape upon said bandage, and means for foldingend portions of said bandage transversely over its intermediate portionand said tape.

2. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauze material and the gauze` material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for grippingthe folded gauze, means for moving the gripping means to draw the foldedgauze a predetermined distance for a cutting operation, means forcutting a predetermined length of said folded gauze for producing acatamenial bandage, means for folding over the ends of said bandage uponitself, means for securing said ends in said folded over position toform reinforced ends for said bandage, means for perforating saidbandage through said reinforced ends, means for depositing apredetermined length oftape upon said bandage, and means for folding endportions of said bandage transversely over its intermediate portion andsaid tape.

3. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauze material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the ycombination of means for cutting apredetermined length of said folded gauze for producing a catamenialbandage, means for folding over the ends of said bandage upon itself,means for securing said ends in said folded over position to formreinforced ends for said bandage, means for perforating said bandagethrough said reinforced ends, means for feeding tape, means for cuttinga predetermined length of said tape, means for depositing saidpredetermined length of tape upon said bandage, and means for fold-r ingend portions of said bandage transversely over its intermediate portionand said tape.

4. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauze material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for cutting apredetermined length of said folded gauze for producing a catamenialbandage, means for-producing reinforced ends onsaid bandage, means forperforating said bandage through said reinforced ends, means for feedingtape, means for cutting a predetermined length of said tape, means fordepositing said predetermined length of tape upon said bandage, andmeans for folding end portions of said bandage transversely over itsintermediate portion and said tape.

5. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauze material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for cutting apredetermined length of said folded gauze for producing a catamenialbandage, means for feeding tape, means for cutting a predeterminedlength of said tape, means for depositing said predetermined length oftape upon said bandage, and means for folding end portions of saidbandage transversely over` its intermediate portion and said tape.

6. In` a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauze material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for cutting apredetermined length of said foldedgauze for producing a catamenialbandage, means for producing reinforced ends on said bandage, means forfeeding tape, means for cutting a predetermined length of said tape,means for depositing said predetermined length of tape upon saidbandage, and means for folding end portions of said bandage transverselyover its intermediate portion and said tape.

7. In a catamenial bandage making machine wherein absorbent material isfed, cut and deposited on gauge material and the gauze material foldedover the cut absorbent material, the combination of means for grippingthe folded gauze, means for moving said gripping means to draw thefolded gauze a predetermined distance for a cutting operation, means forcutting a predetermined length of said folded gauze for producing acatamenial bandage, means for feeding tape, means for cutting apredetermined length of said tape, means for depositing saidpredetermined length of tape upon said bandage, and means for foldingend portions of said bandage transversely over its intermediate portionand said tape.

8. A bandage making machine comprising means for feeding absorbentmaterial, means for feeding gauze or the like, means for depositing saidmaterial on said gauze and including a transfer member, means forfolding said gauze longitudinally over said material into asubstantially fiat tube, means for depositing a predetermined length oftape upon said bandage, and means for folding said bandage over saidtape.

9. A bandage-making machine comprising means for feeding absorbentmaterial, means for feeding gauze or the like, means for depositing saidmaterial on said gauze, means for folding said gauze longitudinally oversaid material into a substantially at tube, means for depositing apredetermined length of tape upon said bandage, and means for foldingsaid bandage over said tape.

l0. A bandage-making machine comprising means for feeding absorbentmaterial, means for feeding gauze or the like, means for depositing saidmaterial on said gauze, means for folding said gauze longitudinally oversaid material into a substantially flat tube, means for securing thefolds of said gauze adjacent the ends of said material to preventendwise shifting of said material, means for depositing a predeterminedlength of tape upon said bandage, and means for folding said bandageover said tape.

LOUIS SCI-IULMAN.

